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333, CENTRE LADIES' AID It is very difficult to get accurate facts concerning the early history of many organizations, for the records are gone and no one is still alive to tell how it all began. So it is with Centre Ladies' Aid. we know it was an active organization in the early 1900's. Both Mrs. Ray Fox and Mrs. Roy Giles, married in 1909 and 1910 respectively, recall attending Ladies' Aid meetings when they came as brides to live in Centre neighbourhood. The meetings were held in the membersr homes. Mrs. Giles remembers them knitting socks during the First World War, As in other‘communities Centre Ladies' Aid was the mainstay of the church, looking after its material needs, beautification and upkeep. Mrs. Elmer Young has in her possession some of the Centre Ladies' Aid minute books, dating back to 1923. A fowl supper was held in 1923, taking in $239.00 at the door. With expenses of $39.00, they cleared $200.00. Fowl suppers were also held in 192h and 1925. With no hall at that time they were held in the schoolâ€"house. Sometimes a tent was set up and used as a kitchen, with coal-oil stoves to keep the food hot. In 192A minute book records purchases of coal oil, lamp chimney and wicks, plates and cups, stair treads, carpet, blinds, stove pipes, fly tox, varnish and $10.00 donated to the Church Board. In 1926 they decided to collect instead of holding a fowl supper. That year they bought choir books, a coleman lamp and oil can, a curtain for church, and paid 90¢ as their share of taxes on parsonage. In 1927 Mrs. Herb Pulver was President of Centre Ladies' Aid, Mrs. Harold Young was Secret- ary and Miss Minnie Howell Treasurer. They bought material and recovered the cushions for the pews.They held a social in August. Dues were 50¢ a member. Meetings were held the third Wednesday of each month. Officers were the same in 1928. An autograph quilt raised $105.70 that year. Because Mrs. Stanton Fox collected $83.00 of that total from persons wishing to have their name embroidered on the quilt top, the quilt was given to her; Mrs. Ray Fox still has that quilt. From 1928 to 19h? quiltings played an important role in their money-making activities. In 1930 a sale was held on the market. In 1931 President was Mrs. Morley Wood, Secretary Mrs. Roy Giles and Treasurer Mrs. C. McFaul. Mrs. 3.1.Redner was President in 1932, and Mrs. Stanton Fox in 1933. Mrs. Cecil McFaul was Treasurer from 1931 to 19h3. Mrs. Roy Giles was Secretary for several years, then served as President in 1936 and 37. Quiltings, pot-luck dinners, pie and ice-cream socials, making aprons (sold for 60¢ each) were some of their money-making projects. In 1937 the ladies paid for the wiring of the church by Jay Sprague. They held a chicken supper again that fall. Mrs. Ray Fox was President from 1938 to l9}0. Mrs. Kenneth Green was Secretary those same three years. Their big accomplishment in 193- was building on a hall and kitchen at the back of the church. Wellington Howell lent the Ladies' Aid the money - lumber and shingles cost $300.00 and dement blocks $105.00, â€" and paid him back with the proceeds from numerous dinners, quiltings, socials and fowl suppers. The hall was completed and a social evening enjoyed in it in January Of 1939. Miss Minnie Howell donated 50 chairs for the hall. Dues in 1937, 38, 39 and n0 were 25¢. In 19h1 Mrs. Arza Pulver was President and Mrs. Winston Pulver Secretary. A potâ€"luck dinner and quilting was held almost every month of the year. The price for quilting was $1.50 to $2.00, and 50¢ for plain binding. An ice-cream social was held in July, admission 25¢ and 15¢, A fowl supper held in October netted them $170.38; admission 60¢ and 30¢. Some of the quilts were donated to the Red Cross and handkerchiefs were also sent to British war victims. Eleven quiltings were held in 19u2, price per quilt $2.00 plus 50¢ for binding. Mrs. Earl Fox was President. Because of the scarcity of sugar they collected (objective - $10.00 a family) instead of having a fowl supper. 15 quiltings were held in 19h3, abox of clothing packed for Russian Relief, collected again instead of fowl supper. The pot-luck dinners and quiltings continued unabated all through lghh, us, hé and A7. many of them were for the Red Cross; these they had to piece as well as quilt. Price for outside orders was $3.00 and $h.00, depending on the amount of work on them. When they worked at the church hall the school children came over for dinner too. Mrs. Earl Fox was President from l9u2 to 19h5, then Mrs. Kenneth Green for l9h6 and A7. Mrs. Winston Pulver was Secretary from 19h1 to 1951- MP8- Elmer YOung was Treasurer from19hu to 1956. The Ladies? Aid paid for the interior painting of the church in 19u5 by a Mr. Gay. They held an afternoon tea in 19h7, inviting Albury, Rednersville, Victoria, Burr's and Amel- iasburg. Bought new choir books in 19A? . In laud-he Centre Ladies' Aid had 3 presidents, eaCh Serving for u months: Mrs. J. Cairns, Mrs. Mac wallbridge and Mrs. E. Ybung. Quiltings were discontinued; afternoon and evening meetings were held in the members' homes. In 19h? the ladies had 2 food sales on Belleville market, a bazaar and tea, and began the Catering Which became their main money-making means from that year until 1966. In both 19M9 and 50 they catered to the Rotarians, 100 @$1.50 a plate; in 1951 price was 31.75. admission to an iceâ€"cream social was h0¢ and 25¢. In 1950 they paid Moran Enterprises $221.50 for painting outside of church. presidents: Mrs. C. Vanclief 1950â€"51, Mrs. C. McFaul 1952, Mrs. w. Pulver 1953-5h, Mrs. A. Cairns 1955, Mrs. Floyd Carter 1956â€"57, Mrs. C. McFaul 1955-61, Mrs. A. Cairns 1962â€"63, Mrs. Robert Cairns 196a, Mrs. E. Young 1965-66. Secretaries: Mrs. J. Cairns 1952-5M, Mrs. w. Green 1955, Mrs. K. Green 1955-57, Mrs. w, Pulver 1958â€"6h, Mrs. C. Vanclief 1965-66. Mrs. K. Green was Treasurer from 1957 to 1966, They built new cupboards in kitchen in 195A, decorated church interior â€" Mr, Bell costing $61h,h3 and bought 2 oil stoves for church in 1955, bought staCk tables and chairs in 1957, more chairs in 1959, planted shrubs around church and hall in 1961. Centre Ladies' Aid came to an end in 1966 with the closing of Centre Church. The ladies then Joined the Rednersville UoC-W- Contributed by Mrs. Elmer Young, March 1975» .20